GRB Names Valedictorian, Salutatorian

G. Ray Bodley High School seniors Caleb Almeter and David Tallents were recently named the top two students of the Class of 2016.
Almeter was named valedictorian after he achieved an overall grade point average (GPA) of 102.3 and Tallents was named salutatorian after he obtained an overall GPA of 100.677.
Almeter has been a member of the Spanish Club, Math Club (treasurer), National Honor Society, the RaiderNetDaily and has swam for the GRB Varsity Swim team and a swim club in Oswego. At SUNY Binghamton he will study the sciences and from there will decide which career path to take. Almeter said he has been fascinated with science and being able to figure out how the world works.
Throughout the past four years, he said he has learned how to better get along with people and his advice for incoming freshmen is to reserve time for themselves and ask for help if needed.
“Get your work done, but if you have a problem with it, it’s not the end of the world,” he said.
Almeter thanked his parents, Mitchell and Stephanie Almeter, for their support throughout his educational career. As he is headed off to college, Almeter said he will be reminded of his favorite quote: “I’m certain there’s too much certainty in the world” (Michael Crichton).
Tallents, son of Dr. Brett and Susan Tallents, has been a member of the soccer, swim and lacrosse teams and is president of the Math Club.
At the University of Buffalo, Tallents will double major in math and another yet-to-be decided program. Math, he said, has been the most consistently interesting subject for him.
Tallents said he has learned to manage stress and to ensure everything he does in life has a purpose. His advice for incoming freshmen is to not be afraid of asking or answering questions.
“Don’t be afraid to be a nerd or come off as smart,” he said.
He said he often will remind himself of his favorite quote: “To be young and not be a revolutionary is a contradiction to biology” (Salvador Allende).
Both students also attributed much of their successes to their hard work and the dedication of several teachers.

G. Ray Bodley High School Class of 2016 Valedictorian Caleb
Almeter, right, and Salutatorian David Tallents, left, show off their
cap and gowns, which they and the rest of the senior class will wear
on graduation